Internal-combustion engine



Feb. 26, 1929. 1,703,653

c; s. BARRETT INTERNAL consus'riou ENGINE Original Filed July 15, 1919 muuatoz we. I 8 5 Patented Feb. 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES G. BARRETT, OI MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOB TO WOBTHING'I'ON rm AND MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 01' VIRGINIA.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE Application filed July 15, 1919, Serial No. 810,978. Renewed April 1, 1985.

My invention relates to internal combustion engines, more especiall of the 011 burning injection type, indepen ent of whether it is a two or four stroke cycle.

The object of the invention is to provlde an improved engine in which supercompressed air is injected into the combustlon chamber during a part of the stroke for the purpose of creating turbulence and effecting a thorough intermingllng of the air and fuel and thus assisting the fuel vaporization and combustion.

The invention consists of structural features and relative arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter. more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, in which similar reference characters indicate the same parts in the several figures,

Figure 1 is a longitudlnal sect1on, w1th partsin elevation, of the fuel end of the engine cylinder showing the preferred form of my invention, and in which the left half of the figure shows the relation of the elements when the piston is beginning the su ercompression of the air, while the right alf shows the position of the parts when the piston is at the end of its compression stroke.

Figure 2 is a bottom view of the dlstrlbutor plate forming one of the important elements of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, represents the cylinder which is provided with the usual combustion chamber 10', head 11 and liner 12. 13 is the piston within the cylinder which is provided at its upper and outer edge with an annular recess 14 in which is seated and secured by means of screws or other fastening means 15, a displacement ring 16 for the purposes to be hereinafter more particularly pointed out. The cylinder head His provided on its inner side with a depending flange 17 which is so constructed and arranged as to form with the upper section of the liner an annular super-compression space or chamber 18, as shown. Preferably passing through said flange 17 is a series of air passages 19 which communicate at one of the ends with the upper or combustion chamber 10 of the cylinder, while the other ends are in communication with the super-compression space or chamber 18. 20 is a compressor ring fitted within the super-compression chamber or space 18 provided with the usual packing rings 21 and adapted to abut or rest against the shoulder 22 on the upper end of the liner, when said ring- 20 is in its lowest position. Said compressor ring 20 is also provided with a small port 23, which is adapted to have its lower end in communicatlon with the series of air passages 19 and its upper end with the upper section of the supercompression chamber or space 18, when said compressor ring 20 is in its lower position, for purposes which will be presently described.

The inner portion of the central section of the cylinder head 11, is provided with 0. cylindrical recess 24 having screw threads 25 on a portion-of its lower inner walls. 26 is a distributor plate, preferably circular in form, provided on its cylindrical side with threads adapted to removably engage the threads 25 of the recess 24, and has its u per end abut against the inner side of the cy inder head 11, and a portion is out out therefrom so as to form an annular and shallow super-compresse'd air storage space, chamber or accumulator 27, within the cylinder head 11, and centrally arranged with regard to the annular super-compression space 18. 28 is an opening central] disposed at the inner section of the distri utor plate 26, in which is properly arranged and disposed a. fuel valve nozzle 29, which is carried and sustained by a fuel valve cage 29 and 30, fitted into an opening 31 in the cylinder head 11, as shown. 32 is a fuel chamber formed in the valve cage, which is adapted to receive the fuel by means of the passageway or duct 33. connected with any source of liquid or other suitable fuel supply under pressure. 34 is a valve which controls the outletof the fuel under pressure from the chamber 32 to the nozzle 29 for atomization in the combustion chamber 10, and may be actuated by any suitable valve mechanism, (not shown), common in this class of machines and forming no essential part of the present invention. 35 are a series of restricted ports or assageways connecting the super-compresse air storage space or chamber 27 with the annular space 28 surrounding the end of the fuel valve nozzle 29, and are preferably and so arranged as to be oppositely and tangentially disposed with respect to the openings 36 of the fuel valve nozzle 29, as shown for example 'in Figure 2, for the purpose of further atomizing the atomized fuel issuing from the nozzle 29,,

other functions to be hereinafter described.

37 are a series of air passages which connect the super-com ressed air stora e chamber or space 27 with t e upper end of t e super-compression space or chamber 18, and each of said passageways 37 is provided with a check valve 38, as shown, for the purpose of preventing the return of the super-compressed air forced into the chamber 27 back into the su er-compression space or chamber 18.

e operation of the invention is as fol lows: Assuming the parts of the engine to be in the position as shown in the left half of Figure 1, it will be seen that the specially constructed displacement ring 16 on the upper end of the piston 13, is just about to engage and force the compressor ring 20 into the super-compression space or chamber 18. During the compression stroke of the piston 13, the air previously drawn in and confined in the cylinder is compressed and a portion of it is forced by said piston 13 through the series of passages 19 and port 23 into the super-compression space or chamber 18. On further and last stages of the upward movement or compression stroke of the piston 13, the compressor ring 20 is forced into the space or cham er 18 so that said port 23 is no longer in communication with the series of ports 19, and the entrapped air, which has been compressed by the compression stroke of the engine piston 13, is further or super-compressed by the action of said compressor ring 20 being displaced into said super-compression space 18 when the displacement ring 16 on said piston 13 comes in contact with ring 20 and forces said ring into the position shown in the right half of Figure 1. The air supercompressod in chamber 18 is forced through the check valves 38 into the super-compressed air storage or accumulator space 27, from whence it passes into the restricted air passages 35, not only to assist and complete the atomization of the finely divided fuel issuing from the fuel nozzle 29, but also to effect a most im ortant feature of the present invention y producing a turbulent action in the combustion chamber 10', which action insures a thorough intermingling of said fuel and air, and complete and eflicient burning of the fuel during the combustion phase of the cycle of operation.

From the foregoing description of the structural characteristics and relative ar rangement of the elements and operation of my invention, it will be readily seen that there is effected a super-compression of air within the cylinder walls by means of a separate and independent compressor ring, fitted with packing rings to secure tightness.

The super-compression chamber is preferably a permanent art of the cylinder structure, and a remova le displacement ring 16 protects the main piston 13 from possible injury and allows easy replacement of said ring 16 in case of its damage. With the use of an annular formed compressor piston or ring 20, the compression chamber 18 can be so located that its cross-sectional area will be a minimum for a given volume, the length of stroke required to attain a given compression is also reduced to a minimum, and the movement of the piston or ring 20 is slow and gentle, coinciding, as it does, with the retarded motion of the main piston 13 as it approaches the end of its stroke, thereby reducing to a minimum the shock and wear on said ring or piston 20 and having a distinct and most important advantage over engines with a cam operated piston of considerable stroke, as previously used in inventions of this class.

A gurther and most important feature of the disclosed arrangement is the provision and use of the accumulator or reservoir 27, to

receive and store up the super-compressed air delivered by each up-stroke of the ring or piston 20. In engines of the pure Diesel type where fuel is injected and combustion continues through a time period e uivalent to a crank angle of 35 to 40 degrees for four-cycle and about 20 degrees for two-cycle engines. where it is necessary to have the delivery of the super-compressed air continue throughout this period, such an adjustment can be readily secured by the disclosed construction and arrangement of restricted air delivery ports 35 in said distributor plate 26. By properly proportioning the number and size of the restricted outlets of said ports 35, the time period required for the near equalization of pressure in the accumlator or storage reservoir 27 and the combustion chamber 10' can be easily accomplished and made to coincide with or slightly overlap the period of fuel injection or combustion of the same in the cylinder. It will also be manifest that by such an arrangement, throughout the expansion stroke, as the pressure within the cylinder falls, there will be a further expansion and flow of air from the accumulator or reservoir 27 through the ports 35, producing the sameeflt'ect as proposed in the original Diesel engine patent, in which was provided a special chamber to expand a portion of the air of compression throughout the power stroke, in order to maintain turbulenceand flecure equal heat distribution in the cylin- Another decidedly advantageous feature of the present invention is the construction whereby the removable distributor plate 26 is designed to occupy an annular space or recess in the center of the cylinder head 11. The

resultant central location of the accumulator or reservoir 27 formed by said plate 26 permits the use of short delivery ports 35, and therefore insures corresponding y small pressure drop when direct eliver of the supercompressed air is contemplate as in the present case.

A distinct innovation is also accom hshed in the present construction and mode opera tion by the use of super-compressed air for securing turbulence in the combustion chamber, with special, not to say exclusive, reference to the oil burning solid injection type of engine. In using the term solid injection, I refer to that variety of en ine which does not utilize an air blast for in ection and atomization of the fuel, which class is known as the air injection type. The solid injection type of engine is a recently proj ectcd improvement upon the air injection type now in general use, and devised in order to do away with the troublesome air compressor attachment. However, the air blast of the air injection type has been particularl valuable in roducing turbulence in the comliustion cham r, and the absence of such turbulence in solid injection engines is believed to be one of the main reasons for a lower combustion efliciency in this type. It is therefore believed that the use of super-compressed air for creating turbulence in the combustion space of a ure Diesel solid in ection type of engine will produce combustion efficiency equal to that of an air injection enne. It should be noted that the preceding disclosure has dealt solely with the Diesel or constant pressure combustion cycle, and the design as illustrated is arranged to meet the requirements of this cycle. The general idea of using super-compression to create turbulence is, however equally applicable to the constant volume combustion cycle. In this latter type of engine, the period of fuel injection is preferably completed before the end of the compression stroke, and this fact eliminates the necessity for the super-compressed air storage chamber 27, the passages 37 and check valves 38, and permits the super-compressed air piston 20 to be constructed as an integral part of the main piston 13. A suitably modified design, adapted to the requirements of the constant volume combustion cycle, is the basis of a separate and copending application, Serial No. 530,107, filed January 18, 1922.

lVhile I have described and shown the preferred form of my invention, I do not limit myself to this specific form, as many changes and modifications will readily suggest themselves to any one skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder having a combustion chamber, a piston within the cylinder, a fuel inlet for conveying fuel into the combustion chamber, an annular air super-compression chamber in communication with and surrounding said cylinder, an annular piston for supercompressing air in said air super-compression chamber, a super-compressed air storage chamber having an inlet in communication with said air super-compression chamber, and an outlet in communication with said combustion chamber, constructed, arranged and ada ted to produce turbulent action in said com ustion chamber for the thorough intermingling of said fuel and air in said combustion chamber.

2. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder having a combustion chamber, a piston within the cylinder, a fuel nozzle for conveying fuel into the combustion chamber, an annular air super-compression chamber communicating with and surrounding the compression end of the cylinder, an annular piston operated by the piston for super-compressing air in said air super-compression chamber, a super-compressed air storage chamber having an inlet in communication with said air super-compression chamber and an outlet in communication with said combustion chamber, constructed, arranged and adapted to produce turbulent action in said combustion chamber for the thorough intermingling .of said fuel and air in said combustion chamber.

3. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder having a combustion chamber, a piston within the cylinder, a fuel nozzle for conveyin fuel into the combustion chamber, an annular-shaped air super-compression chamberin communication with and surrounding the compression end of said cylinder, a separate and independent compressor ring in said air super-compression chamber, means on said piston for actuating said compressor ring for super-compressing air in said air super-compression chamber, a supercompressed air storage chamber having an inlet in communication with said air supercompression chamber and an outlet in communication with said combustion chamber, constructed, arranged and adapted to produce turbulent action in said combustion chamber for the thorough intermingling of said fuel and air in said combustion chamber.

4. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder having a combustion chamber, a piston Within the cylinder, 21 fuel nozzle for conveying fuel into the combustion chamber, an annular air super-compression chamber in communication with and surrounding said cylinder, means for supercompressing air in said super-compression chamber, a super-compressed air storage chamber having an inlet in communication with said air super-compression chamber and a series of outlets in communication with said combustion chamber so constructed and arranged in proximity to the fuel nozzle to complete the atomization of the admitted fuel and also produce a turbulent action in said combustion chamber for the thorough intermingling of said fuel.

5. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder having a combustion chamber, a piston within the cylinder, a fuel nozzle for conveying fuel into the combustion chamber, an annular air super-compression chamber connnunicating with and surround ing the compression end of the cylinder, an independent piston operated by the piston in the cylinder for super-compressing air in said air super-cmnpression chamber, a supercompressed air storage chamber having an inlet in communication with said air supercomprcssion chamber and a plurality of outlets in comn'iunication with said combustion chamber, so constructed, adapted and arranged in proximity to the fuel nozzle as to complete the atomization of the admitted fuel and also produce a turbulent action in said combustion chamber for the thorough intermingling of said fuel.

6. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder having a combustion chamber, a piston within the cylinder, a fuel nozzle for conveying fuel into the combustion chamber, an annular-shaped air super-compression chamber communicating with and surrounding the compression end of the cylinder, a separate and independent compressor ring in said air super-compression chamber for super-compressing air in said super-compression chamber, an annular ring on said piston for actuating said compressor-ring, a supercompressed air storage chamber having an inlet in communication with said super-compression chamber and an outlet in communi cation with said combustion chamber, so constructed, adapted and arranged in proximity to the fuel nozzle as to complete the atomization of the admitted fuel and also produce a turbulent action in said combustion chamber for the thorough intermingling of said fuel and air.

7. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder having a combustion chamber,

' a piston within said cylinder, a fuel nozzle for conveying fuel into the combustion chamber, an annular air super-compression chamberwith-in and surrounding the compression end of the cylinder and in communication with said combustion chamber and adapted to receive air compressed in the cylinder during the compression stroke of the piston, an annular super-compressed air storage chamber surrounding said fuel nozzle and having an inlet in communication with said air supercompression chamber and an outlet communicating with said combustion chamber in proximity to the fuel nozzle, an independent annular compressor ring within said air super-compression chamber for super-compressin the compressed air received from the cylinder, and a detachable ring on the piston within the cylinder for actuating said compressor ring.

. 8. An internal combustion engine comprismg a cylinder having a'combustion chamber, a piston within the cylinder, a fuel valve nozzle for conveying finely divided fuel into the combustion chamber, means for control-1 ling the fuel through said nozzle, an annular air sinner-compression chamber communicating with and surrounding the compression end of said cylinder and adapted to receive air compressed in the cylinder and forced therein during the compression stroke of the piston, an annular super-compressed air storage chamber within the cylinder and having an inlet'in communication with said air super-compression chamber and a series of restricted outlets in proximity to said fuel valve nozzle and in communication with said combustion chamber for the purpose of assisting and completing the atomization of the finely divided fuel. and means within said air super-compression chamber operated by the piston for super-compressing the compressed air received from the cylinder.

9. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder having a combustion chamber, a cylinder head, a piston within said cylinder, a fuel nozzle for conveying fuel into the combustion chamber, an annular air supercompression chamber within the cylinder and in communication with said combustion chamber and adapted to receive air compressed in the cylinder during the compression stroke of the piston, an annular super-compressed air storage chamber in said head and having an inlet in con'in'iunication with said air super-compression chamber and a series of outlets communicating with said combustion chamber in proximity to the fuel nozzle. an annular compressor piston within said air super-compression chamber for super-compressing the compressed air received from the cylinder, and means on the piston for actuating the compressor piston.

10. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder having a combustion chamber, a cylinder head, a piston within said cylinder, a fuel nozzle for conveying fuel into the combustion chamber, an annular air super-compression chamber within the cylinder and in communication with said combustion chamber and adapted to receive air compressed in the cylinder during the compression stroke of the piston, an annular supercompressed air storage chamber centrally disposed with respect to the super-compression chamber and having an inlet in communication with said air super-compression chamber and a series of outlets communicating with said con'ibustion chamber in proximity to and surrounding the fuel. nozzle, an independent and separate annular compressor piston within said air super-compression chamber for super-compressing the commoaeaa pressed air received from the cylinder, and means on the piston within the cylinder for actuating the compressor piston.

11. An internal combustion engine comrising a cylinder havin a combustion cham er, a head for the COIIliNlSt-iOIl chamber, an

independent super-compressed air distributor plate removably attached to the inner side of said head, a fuel nozzle for conveying and atomizing fuel' into the combustion chamber, an air super-compressing chamber, means for super-compressing air in said super-compressing chamber, a supercompressed air storage chamber in said distributor plate and having an inlet in communication-with said air super-compressing chamber and an outlet independent of the fuel nozzle and in communication with said combustion chamber, said distributor plate, super-compressed air outlet being so constructed, arranged and adapted to produce turbulent action in said combustion chamber for the thorough intermingling of said atomized fuel and air in said combustion chamber.

12. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder havin a combustion chamber, a head for the com ustion chamber, an independent super-compressed air distributor plate removably attached to the inner side of said head, a fuel nozzle for conveying and atomizing fuel into the combustion chamber and surrounded by said distributor plate, an air super-compressing chamber, means for super-compressing air in said air super-compressing chamber, a super-compressed air storage chamber having an inlet in communication with said air super-compressing chamber and a series of restricted outlets independent of the fuel nozzle in communication with said combustion chamber, said distributor plate and super-compressed air outlet being so constructed, arranged and ada ted to produce turbulent action in said com ustion chamber for the thorough intermingling of said atomized fuel and air in said combustion chamber.

13. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder having a combustion chamber, a cylinder head, a head for the combustion chamber, an independent super-compressed air distributor plate removably attached and centrally disposed with respect to the inner side of said head, a fuel nozzle for conveying and atomizing fuel into the combustion chamber, an annular air super-compressing chamber within the cylinder head, means for super-compressing air in said air super-compressing chamber, a super-compressed air storage chamber adjacent to said distributor plate and havingan outlet independent of the fuel nozzle and in communication with said combustion chamber, said distributor plate and super-compressed air outlet being so constructed, arranged and adapted to produce turbulent action in said com mingling of said atomized fuel and air in said combustion chamber.

14. An internal combustion engine of the oil-burning solid injection type comprising a cylinder having a combustion chamber 'a cylinder head, a piston within the cylinder, a fuel nozzle for conveying and atomizing fuel into the combustion chamber, an annular super-compressed air storage chamber within the cylinder head and directly over the combustion chamber, and means independent of the fuel nozzle for conve pressed air into the'com ustion chamber for the purpose of producing turbulence in the cylinder.

15. An internal combustion engine of the oil-burning solid injection type comprising a cylinder having a combustion chamber, a cylinder head, a piston within the c linder, a fuel supply chamber, a fuel nozzle gor injecting and atomizing said fuel into the combustion chamber, an annular super-compressed air storage chamber within said cylinder head and directly over the combustion chamber, means for super-compressing air into said stora e chamber, and means independent of the uel nozzle for utilizing said supercompressed air to assist the injection, atomization and ignition of the fuel in the combustion chamber.

16. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder having a combustion chamer therein, a head for the combustion chamber, afuel nozzle centrally within the head for conveying under pressure and atomizing fuel into the combustion chamber, an air' super-compression chamber within the cylinder ead, means for super-compressing air in said air super-com ressing chamber, an air passage interposed etween the said air supercompressing chamber and the combustion chamber, said passage being so constructed, arranged and adapted to receive air from the air super-compressing chamber and discharge it into the combustion chamber in proximity to, around and independent of the fuel nozzle and deliver the super-compressed air into the combustion chamber coincident with or overlapping the period of fuel injection, thereby producing a turbulent action in said combustion chamber for the thorough intermingling of said atomized fuel and air in said combustion chamber.

17. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder having a combustion chamer therein, a piston-within the cylinder, 11 headfor the combustion chamber, a fuel nozzle for injecting fuel into the combustion chamber, an annular air super-compression chamber coacting with the engine piston for supercompressing air in said air super-compressing chamber, an air passage between the said annular air super-compression chamber ustion chamber for the thorough intery ing said super-comand the combustion chamber adapted to discharge air from the air super-compression chamber into the combustion chamber independently of the fuel nozzle and deliver the super-compressed air into the combustion chamber coincidently with or overlapping the period of fuel injection, thereby producing a turbulent action in said combustion chamber for the thorough intermingling of said fuel and air in said combustion chamber.

18. An internal combustion engine comrising a cylinder having a combustion chamer, a cylinder head, a piston within the cylinder, a fuel inlet for conveyin fuel into the combustion chamber, an annu ar air supercompression chamber formed by the cylinder and cylinder head, means for super-compressing air in said annular super-compression chamber, and means independent of said fuel inlet for conveying said super-compressed air into the combustion chamber for producing turbulence therein.

19. An internal combustion engine of the oil-burning solid injection type comprising a cylinder having a combustion chamber, a piston within the cylinder, a fuel nozzle delivering fuel to the combustion chamber, a cylinder head, a depending flange on the cylinder head, an annular air super-compression chamber formed between said flange and the cylinder wall and communicating with said cylinder, an annular ring carried by the piston and arran ed to enter the air super-compression cham er for the compression of air therein, and means independent of said fuel nozzle for conveying the super-compressed air into the combustion chamber for producing turbulence therein.

20. An internal combustion engine of the oil-burning solid injection type comprising a cylinder having a combustion chamber, a piston within the cylinder, a fuel nozzle delivering fuel to the combustion chamber, a cylinder head, a depending flange on the cylinder head forming one wall of the combustion chamber, an annular super-compression chamber formed between said flange and the cylinder wall and communicatin with the cylinder, annular means carried by the piston and arran ed to enter the air super-compression cham er for the compression of air therein, and means independent of said fuel nozzle for conveying the super'compressed air into the combustion chamber for producing turbulence therein.

21. An internal combustion engine comrising a cylinder having a combustion cham- )OI', a. cylinder head, a piston within the cylinder having a head formed with a concave face, forming a concave inner wall of the combustion chamber, a fuel inlet for conveying fuel into the combustion chamber and arranged to deliver fuel into the piston concave, an annular air super-compression chamber formed by the cylinder and cylinder head, means for super-compressing air in said annular super-compression chamber, and means independent of said fuel inlet for conveying said super-compressed air into the concave portion of the combustion chamber for pro-' ducing turbulence in said chamber.

22. An internal combustion engine comprising a cylinder having a combustion chamber, a piston within the cylinder, a fuel inlet for conveying fuel into the combustion chamber, an annular air super-compression chamber, in communication with and surrounding said cylinder, an annular piston for supercompressing air in said air super-compression chamber, and a connection for the passage of air from said super-compression chamber to said combustion chamber, constructed, arranged and adapted to produce turbulent action in said combustion chamber for the thorough intermingling of said fuel and air in said combustion chamber.

23. An internal combustion engine having a substantially cylindrical projection in the head of the cylinder thereof, said engine having a piston provided with a recess into which said cylinder projection can enter, the top of the piston being of substantially annular shape and being adapted to enter the annular cylinder space between the wall of the cylinder and the annular projection thereof, t e parts being so dimensioned that when the said piston is moved inwardly upon its compression stroke the air in said annular cylinder space is compressed to a higher pressure than the air located in the recess of the piston within the cylinder projection, said recess forming a part of a combustion chamber into which a powerful current of air is forced from said annular cylinder space during a portion of the inner stroke of the piston, said combustion chamber having a fuel inlet communicating directly therewith.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHARLES G. BARRETT. 

